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Waipawa Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 4152, 12 January 1901, Page 2

Stock quotations and Rabbit Inspectors’ reports will b 9 found on the first page. The reading matter on the fourth page consists of a report of Mr A. B. Paterson’s lecture on the Boer war. Th 9 bot-fly is becoming very troublesome in Timaru. Mr Richard Armstrong, of Oamaru, is stated to have made a competency by potato growing. Mr and Mrs H. F. Norris are expected to arrive at Waipukurau by the express this evening. The many friends of Dr Godfray will bo pleased to hear that ho has recovered from his wound and has rejoined the forces. Fruitgrowers in the Nelson district are naturally grumbling because they cannot get more than 2|d per lb for their raspberries. Mr R. Wisdom, who left Waipawa a fow years ago to try his fortune at Coolgardie, is on a brief visit to this town, renewing old friendships. He is in the best of health and has been fairly fortunate in South Australia. The cold snap of the last few days has not been appreciated after the humid atmosphere we have been subjected to for the week previous. In many houses last night fires were lighted, so severely was the cold felt. Finding that the present General Post Office buildings at Wellington are now too restricted, the Government have decided to purchase the whole remaining property on the ’ block, now partly occupied by the Post Office, with a view to making considerable extensions. The new railway regulation gazetted yesterday providing for admission by ticket only (except as regards travellers) to railway stations a quarter of an hour before and after arrival or departure of trains is only to bo put in force when occasion requires.

Mr G. H. Saxby, who has resided in this district for over 32 years, leaves St. Lawrence on Tuesday next. It is no figure of speech to say that he carries with him the respect and esteem of the entire community, who wish him the best of health, happiness and fortune in the future.

The Survey Department (says the Lyttelton Times) has just finished cutting up the Lyndon property, purchased by the Government from Messrs D. and A. Macfarlane. The block of 4200 acres is now cut up into eight sections, varying from 394 to 732 acres. The sections will be ballotted for in March, under the lease in perpetuity system. The milking .record for the Taranaki coast, or, in fact, for New Zealand, has (says the Dairyman) been put up by a Plains settler and his wife, who, without any help except what could be given by a twenty month old infant, milked 79 cows twice daily. It is a fact, and can be vouched for, that he delivered on an average 2000 pounds of milk a day at the factory, and not a penny was spent in wages last year.

While on tour in Ireland, a New Plymouth resident found the Belfast Ropeworks Company using New Zealand fibre, and he obtained specimens of the finished rope and cord they turned out. The samples were well finished, and would scarcely be identified as phormium tenax, while the price was 36s per cwt., as against 65s and 70s for Manila.

During the past 44 years 14,607,2780 z gold valued at £57 429,451, have been exported from New Zealand. The largest quantity exported in any one year since 1857 was 730,0290 z in 1871, when the greater portion came in from the Thames. In 1860 only 45380 z was sent away. Last year’s export (371,9930 z) was the second largest for 26 years, that for the year 1899 being about 17,5000 z larger. In a letter recently received from England by Bishop Nevill the writer asks: “Do you remember a young fellow named Bullen in Dunedin years ago ? He is now I am told, one of the finest writers in tho English language. He joined the church in Dunodin and was confirmed by you/’ This refers to the author of the “ Cruise of the Cachalot ” and other works. Bishop Nevill finds that he was confirmed at Port Chalmers in 1876, aged 19 years. An exceptional opportunity is offered to fanciers wishing to secure good strains of Homing pigeons. On Wednesday next, Mr W. Proffitt, of Napier, offers by auction, without reserve, his entire loft, containing 30 birds, bred by himself from Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedm strains. The excellence of these is proved by the great number of wins scored by purchasers of young birds from this loft last season and the still better record put up this season. Twelve birds are nominated for the forthcoming Derby and the use of the loft will be given to purchasers of these until after the fly. The old method of farming as compared with the new (says an exchange) has received a striking illustration in the Wairarapa. The father held to the old ideas, while the son urged him to adopt the modern ones. Dad could not bo persuaded, so the son proposed that both should divide the land for cultivation for a season, each to work the soil his own way. This was agreed to, and the old man smiled as he thought how his son would be taken down a peg with his new-frangled notions. Sowing and reaping went on, and when each had sold his crop the son had £3O more to show for his labour, much to the surprise of the old man. With reference to the action of the Government in undertaking the grading

of cheese in Wellington, the Government Produce Commissioner in London says, in his report of Ist December: —“ The Agricultural Department in Wellington has this year cormnuncjd the grading of cheese. I do not think there is the slightest doubt but that this will have as beneficial an offjet upon the quality of the cheese manufactured as the system has already, undoubtedly had in the improvement of the quality of butter. The grading must ultimately bo of the greatest assistance to buyers as well as to producers in determining the relative value of tho product.”

In commenting upon tho letter of Mr Purvis Russell to the Premier, in reference to the “ransom” of tho Haturna estate, the Dunedin Star says : —“ Tuo Government, acting within their statutory rights, have treated this landowner with the greatest consideration, and the Court have awarded him liberal compensation. It might bo interesting to know what Mr Russell paid for this property, for which he is now to receive the handsome fortune of £141,618 from the funds of the colony. The settlement and close occupation of the land are of vital moment to New Zealand, arid beyond what is reasonably just and equitable, nothing . must be permitted to stand in the way. To allow runholders to buy off settlement will be detrimental, to the best interests of the people, and the acceptance of such a proposal as that of Mr Purvis Russell would open the door to gross abuses. A wealthy syndicate, for instance, might keep the rich lands of Hawke’s Bay and other districts as sheep runs in perpetuity, and New Zealand become, in the language of the poet, a country “where wealth accumulates and man decays.’ ” A correspondent at the front, referring to the Rhenosherkop battle, has the following concerning some who are well known in this district: —Shortly after, the news came along the line that Lieutenant Tucker was shot through the thigh. Dr. Godfray at once went to his assistance, only to receive a bullet through his knoo. It was Corporal Hagonson’s (of the Third Contingent) turn next. A bullet hit his bandolier straight in the middle of the chest, glanced off a cartridge and through his right breast, and out at his back under his shoulder. The cartridge in the bandolier saved his life, otherwise' he would have been shot clean through the body like poor Oppenheim. Trooper Vernall, who is orderly to Dr. Godfray, in going up to see the doctor after he was shot, got a bullet through his tunic, passing right through across his chest without touohing him. He coolly remarked in his slow manner of speaking, “ My woord, but that wur close, wurn’t it 1” Particulars of Lieutenant Tuoker’s and Dr. Godfray’s wounds are :—Tucker was shot whilst ordering his men up, and Dr. Godfray rode to his assistance, and was shot through the leg. The plucky doctor finished dressing Tucker, and then laid down alongside him all day, and until 11.30 that night, when the ambulance came. They were by that time cold and so stiff that they could hardly move, having been lying on the ground 18 hours. Simpson, of the Third, dressed Dr Godfray’s leg, and drove the horses away, escaping miraculouslv.